The South Lake TAHOE, CA A well-known problem bear in the Lake Tahoe Basin was put down by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) following years of increasing human-wildlife conflicts, which included car damage, home invasions, and aggressive conduct toward campers.
After being found inside a damaged, vacant house close to Meeks Bay, the bear—identified by ear tag number 717—was killed on July 7. The bear has a recorded history of human conflict and break-ins that goes back at least to 2021, according to CDFW. The animal’s behavior continued and became more intense in spite of earlier attempts to haze, relocate, and deter it.
In an effort to safeguard campers and avoid food conditioning, CDFW personnel were on hand that evening to assist in hazing several bears away from campgrounds. They recognized the bear by its tag after being notified of the home invasion during the operation.
After being apprehended and moved once before, Bear 717 returned to the Tahoe Basin and resumed its destructive activities, which included breaking into cars and establishments and threatening campers to get food. Due of persistent risks to public safety, the bear eventually received approval for its fatal removal after becoming trap shy and making it difficult to capture.
According to CDFW, the bear weighed close to 400 pounds and had badly decaying teeth, which were probably caused by its dependence on human waste and food. The bear’s remains were first transported to prevent public interactions and then left to the forest to naturally disintegrate after the skull was collected for scientific and educational purposes.
Officials stressed the significance of removing bear attractants like food and unsecured waste in order to maintain bears in the wild. While nonlethal conflict prevention remains a top priority in CDFW’s new Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan, lethal measures may be taken when public safety is in jeopardy.
In order to minimize bear-human encounters, the organization urges the public to use their Wildlife Incident Reporting system to report bear sightings or confrontations and to adopt BearWise behaviors.
